Riku listened, his expression unchanged, as Think Nirvalen's voice crackled with cold fury from within Braham's Ring. Her declaration of temporary inconvenience and future consequences hung in the night air. When she finished, Riku's voice was calm, cutting through her anger.
"Do you truly believe you can do anything now, Think?" he asked, his tone soft, almost conversational, yet laced with an undeniable edge.
"Not yet," Think retorted, her voice sharp with frustrated power. "But if you do anything wrong, human, you will face the consequences. You have no idea what you've unleashed."
Riku chuckled, a low, humorless sound. "Unleashed? Think, by the time you were trapped in this ring, you were already lost. Furthermore, if you hadn't accepted my... 'proposal', the match would have been a stalemate. And you, the unparalleled octa-caster, would have gained nothing."
Every move Riku made, every word he uttered, had been meticulously calculated, a grand, multi-layered deception. Had Think not listened to his audacious confession after he removed his mask, he would have simply reverted to the original plan: a prolonged game of chess, using his unparalleled knowledge of this world and Earth's logic to manipulate her against the other races, slowly extracting the information he needed.
In the highly unlikely event that she had attacked him—a foolish move, as she was far too intelligent for such rashness—two scenarios were possible. Either Black March would have seamlessly activated its invisible barrier, saving Riku and, in turn, killing both Think and Nina, or, in the truly improbable scenario where Black March failed to protect him, it would still have ensured that both of them are killed
He was just about to explain the depth of her predicament when, without warning, a new, jarring notification blazed into his perception.
[MISSION: Show Who's The Boss]
[Think Nirvalen is one of the most talented elves, her intelligence and unparalleled talent in magic commanding respect wherever she goes. She is admired, revered, untouchable.
Furthermore, Think Nirvalen loves Nina Clive, a female elf. Their bond is deep, intimate, and exclusive. A commitment of spirit and heart.]
[When it comes to riku, his hatred for other races is legendary. He would never willingly go 'physical' with any of them.
[So, Riku must utterly dominate her and make love with her.]
DIFFICULTY: A Rank
TIME LIMIT: 3 Days
CONSEQUENCE OF FAILURE: System goes dormant for two months. No missions, no rewards.
The moon, now a cold, indifferent eye above the ancient trees, seemed to mock him. The forest, which minutes ago felt like a sanctuary for his calculated maneuvers, now felt like a cage. Three days. And the prize?
Riku gritted his teeth, the System's insidious new mission notification burning behind his eyes. 'I hate you, System,' he thought, the silent curse echoing in his mind. The moon, now a cold, indifferent eye above the ancient trees, seemed to mock him. The forest, which minutes ago felt like a sanctuary for his calculated maneuvers, now felt like a cage. Three days. And the prize? A mission that went against every fiber of his being, a twisted mockery of his carefully constructed plans.
Think Nirvalen, oblivious to the digital torment Riku was experiencing, her voice still echoing from within Braham's Ring, finally broke the silence. "Why have you gone quiet, human? Have you finally grasped the gravity of your actions?"
Riku said nothing, his jaw tight. There was no way he could avoid this mission. Two whole months of the System going dormant, no missions, no rewards – that was an eternity in this war-torn world. That was a death sentence for his people. But to... to do that to her? He couldn't. His hatred for other races, particularly elves, was legendary. He would never willingly go 'physical' with any of them. The very thought made his stomach churn.
He forced his attention back to Think Nirvalen. His voice, when it came, was low, laced with a dangerous edge that was purely raw anger, not manipulation. "Think, it would be my generosity if I simply allowed you to remain unharmed in there and didn't crush you into dust. Do not, for a single moment, assume that I fear anything. Especially not the 'consequences' you threaten."
Think, sensing the genuine shift in his mood, decided to keep quiet for now. She could feel the volatile surge of his emotions, and her analytical mind concluded it was her mistake to provoke him further.
After a moment, Riku's anger seemed to recede, replaced by a cold, practical tone. "Do you have any trouble inside the ring?"
"It's... unexpectedly cozy," Think replied, her voice now flat, devoid of its earlier sharpness, almost curious.
"That's great," Riku said, a grim satisfaction in his voice. "Because you'll be staying inside it for a few days."
Then, without another word, Riku focused his will on Braham's Ring. A subtle shimmer enveloped the golden band. The connection to Think's voice, the faint sense of her presence, abruptly vanished.
He had modified the ring's enchantment, severing the link. She would no longer be able to hear anything from the outside, nor would her voice escape the confines of her prison. He needed silence. He needed to think. And he needed to find a way to complete this abominable mission without shattering his own soul.
AFTER REACHING THE VILLAGE
The familiar shimmer of light, brief and intense, filled the newly constructed room within the village. With a silent command, Riku brought Think Nirvalen out of Braham's Ring.
She materialized before him, blinking, her emerald eyes adjusting to the dim lamplight, her silver hair shimmering faintly. Before a single word of fury or question could escape her lips, Riku held a finger to his own, a silent, urgent gesture for quiet.
"Don't say anything loudly," he murmured, his voice low and firm. "People outside will hear you."
Think's eyes, sharp and intelligent, immediately scanned their surroundings. The room was spartan but clearly new: rough-hewn wooden walls, a simple cot, a small table with maps, and a single flickering lantern. It was undeniably a human dwelling. A faint frown touched her lips as she registered their location – they were no longer in her mansion. Days, perhaps, had passed since she was trapped. Time within the ring was… ambiguous.
Then, her gaze fixed on Riku's face. A subtle, purplish bruise marred his cheekbone, a stark contrast to his otherwise flawless complexion.
"There's a mark on your face," Think observed, her voice quiet, a curious edge replacing her earlier anger. "It wasn't there before."
Riku instinctively touched the bruise, a flicker of irritation crossing his features. He couldn't tell her it was from Levi. Couldn't explain that the terrifyingly efficient Captain, ever vigilant for the safety of the village, had delivered a swift, brutal kick when Riku had been caught making a solo, unsanctioned foray beyond the perimeter.
Levi's dedication was absolute, his methods… direct.
"It's nothing," Riku dismissed, turning slightly.
"It's clearly not 'nothing'," Think countered, a detached, almost clinical concern entering her tone. "It's a contusion. I can heal it." She extended a slender, elegant hand towards him, a faint glow beginning to emanate from her palm.
Riku's eyes narrowed. "I doubt that. You only have about one percent of your magic power right now."
Think's hand froze, her eyes widening in genuine shock. She tried to call upon her internal wellspring, to feel the vast, boundless ocean of magical energy that was her birthright, her very essence. But it was barely a trickle, a pathetic stream where a roaring river should have been. Her octa-cast abilities, her legendary power, reduced to less than a whisper.
"What have you done?!" she hissed, her voice low but laced with profound disbelief and a dawning horror.
Her gaze, still sharp, fixed on Riku, trying to pierce the calm mask he wore. "Do the other... humans know about me? About what you've done?"
Riku's expression remained impassive, his eyes betraying no hint of his true thoughts. He shook his head slowly. "They don't know about you. In their perspective, I returned alone."
Think's brow furrowed, a flicker of confusion mingling with her fear. "Then... what is your intention? Why bring me here if my existence is a secret?"
"You're not going to be an 'elf' here, Think," Riku explained, his voice low and deliberate. "You're going to be a human. A refugee from another village, just like the rest of them. And I," he added, a hint of something unreadable in his eyes, "will be the one who found you, who brought you to safety."
Think's jaw tightened, a silent protest against the humiliation. "You expect me to simply... pretend to be one of your kind? To live among those... savages?" The disdain in her voice was thinly veiled.
"You have no choice, Think," Riku stated, his voice devoid of sympathy. "Your magic is gone. Your power is gone. You are, as you correctly assessed, little more than prey in this state. If you wish to survive, you will adapt. And you will follow my instructions." His gaze hardened. "Your life, and your temporary freedom, depend entirely on your cooperation."
He moved to a small, rough wooden chest and pulled out a simple, hooded cloak woven from dark, coarse fabric. He held it out to her. "Wear this. Keep your head down. Keep your ears hidden."
Think hesitated, her eyes flickering from the cloak to Riku's unyielding face, then to her now-powerless hands. The proud, ancient elf was forced to swallow her immense pride. Slowly, reluctantly, she took the cloak. The rough fabric felt alien against her skin, so unlike the fine silks and elven weaves she was accustomed to. She pulled the hood over her hair, obscuring her pointed ears, the defining features of her race.
As the heavy fabric settled around her, cloaking her form, a mischievous glint, surprisingly, entered her emerald eyes. A subtle, almost imperceptible tilt of her head, a playful arch of a perfect eyebrow, transformed her expression. She looked up at Riku, a ghost of her former regal defiance returning, laced with a surprising, almost charming impudence. She gave him a slow, deliberate wink.
"So," Think purred, her voice low and husky, a playful challenge in its tone, "how do I look now, my dear 'savior'?"
Riku's face remained utterly impassive. He simply stared at her for a long, silent moment. Then, without a second's word, he focused his will.
The familiar shimmer of light, brief and intense, filled the room. Think's playful expression froze, replaced by a flash of surprise as she was once again enveloped. In an instant, she was gone, re-absorbed into the golden confines of Braham's Ring.
Riku sighed, a faint whisper of relief escaping his lips. Her mischievousness, her audacity, was both a tool and a liability.
He slipped the ring back onto his finger and exited the room. He slipped through a passage and started going outside the village.
"Where are you going, general?" One of the scouts, who was guarding the gate, asked.
"I'm going to meet a guest." Riku said nonchalantly.
The scout got confused, but still let him go.
Once a safe distance from the village, he brought Think out of the ring once more.
She materialized with a gasp, her expression a mix of bewilderment and renewed frustration. Before she could voice her anger, Riku swiftly pulled her along, half-dragging her back towards the village.
"We need to make this look convincing," Riku murmured, his voice urgent, leaving no room for questions or protests. "You're supposed to have just been 'found'."
Think, despite her fury, couldn't deny the logic. She stumbled alongside him, the heavy cloak a strange burden, her mind racing. This human was terrifying. He was meticulous, ruthless, and utterly unpredictable. And somehow, he had utterly disarmed her.