"Mmmm." Irina's moan, muffled by the kiss they shared over her shoulder, vibrated its way through their mingling tongues.
He had her back pulled against his chest, one hand wrapped around her waist and the other fondling her breasts, his dick firmly rooted within her quivering pussy. And she was tight. Her walls pressed and squeezed down on him as if they sought to milk him right then and there before he could even start moving.
After a few nights together, Irina proving herself to be shy but especially eager, she'd adjusted somewhat, no pain to be found on her pleasure twisted face. Her body maintained that supple tightness, plenty of foreplay needed to truly get her ready.
Thankful a mix precum and her fluids soon coated her walls, something he made the most of as he began to rock his hips. First short shallow thrusts that kept most of his member pressed within her clinging walls. Then, slower longer thrusts that brought him out to the head before he shifted forward, gliding against her velvety inside as he found his way back to her deeper parts.
And Irina enjoyed every moment of it, barely able to muffle her moans as they parted for breath. Not that there was much point in that. There wasn't much going on on this island they called home and it wouldn't take much detective work to figure out why the two of them opted to sleep in together, everyone else already carrying out their own morning routines.
Nevertheless, her effort persisted but didn't always succeed, Onyx paying careful attention to her face and body. The way her lip and toes curled, her body pressed further against him as his dick brushed against specific spots. The way her hands, placed over his, held on just a bit tighter. When her labored breaths caught in her throat.
He'd already had a good idea where her most sensitive areas were, but he still made an effort to find more. Plus, he like watching her bend and shiver in pleasure.
Soon enough, with a slight sheen of sweat built on her body, the loudest moan yet escaped Irina, and her legs pressed firmly together as he fed another angled thrust into her. The tightening of her legs helped her already shuddering walls press down harder, her soaked pussy clamped down on his member as she leaked even more of her juices.
He didn't bother fighting the mounting pressure within him, wholeheartedly embracing it as his member twitched and throbbed before quickly giving in the warm embracing pressing down from all sides. A faint grunt left him as wave of cum raced out splashing and filling Irina's deepest parts. His pussy quivered in response, draw as much as it could out of him. Several more shots soon saw a mix of his cum and her fluids leaking out between their connection, the overflow dirtying the bed's furs further.
Running a thumb over her hardened a nipple, while his lower hand dipped a litter further to rub at her clint, Onyx kept the touching light as Irina regained her breath.
Eager as she was, Irina wasn't built sturdy nor did she have much stamina so while he might be more than ready to go for more, he didn't press things. He'd much rather leave a little pent up than actual end up hurting her.
"Thou wastes too much time on this mortal." Unfortunately, Marika saw fit to interject herself, voice echoing within his mind. At least she had the decency not to, or at least couldn't be bothered to project a vision of herself.
He was already going to be leaving in a few short hours now that he'd fully recovered, he didn't need or want her hurrying him along.
XOXO
Head kept low, Boc quietly watched as Onyx exchanged goodbyes with Irina and Edgar.
Golden halberd strapped to his back, the weapon called the Grafted Blade stabbed into the dirt beside him, Onyx smiled as he shared a one arm hug with Irina and nod with Edgar. Boc wasn't sure what had happened but after he awakened from that sudden coma, there'd been something different about Onyx. Before it was only through seeing him in battle first-hand that Boc realized how skilled he was, but now there was this feeling tugging at the edge of his mind. He knew for a fact that Onyx was powerful.
It was the similar to the feeling he'd always gotten when looking at the chieftains of his people. An instinct.
As he stepped back from Irina, he grabbed the handle of the greatsword, and with a singe arm, pulled it from its place in the sand, the hulking mass of metal Boc couldn't even comprehend dragging around, balanced on Onyx's shoulder by its guard.
Whatever happened he was stronger now. Far stronger than those much bigger chieftains and yet no fear came with the instinct that made Boc aware of that. For as strong as he was, Onyx was nothing like them.
"Later, Boc." Onyx called out to him despite the small distance he kept.
"Y-Yes, Lord Onyx." Boc said, bowing his head. "Please be safe."
"No promises." Onyx said, Boc glancing up to find the same friendly smile he gave all the others.
Mother had always told him stories about warriors. True warriors. Ones, that unlike the ones who led their tribe, used their strength to protect all those it regardless of whether or not they power or weak. Young or old. Useful or useless. He'd long since decided they were lies just to give him comfort. She'd always been looking out for him in that way. But if they were true, those warriors must've been like Onyx.
Boc wished he could be more like him.
He wished he could be strong the way he was. Kind the way that he was. Sure and confident the way he was.
Boc wished that he could go with him but that wasn't possible. He would only-
"Boc?" Onyx called, Boc snapping his lowering head back up. Even his eyes were different now, a distinct dark blue coloring cresting the edges of his irises at times. "The old falchion I kept? It's yours now." His confusion must've shown, Onyx carrying on. "Do whatever you want with it."
Without further explanation he waved to them before turning away, his ever silent maiden falling in step behind him, their respective cloaks shifting with the winds as they set off to make their way up inland.
Even when Edgar turned, guiding Irina back into the tunnels so they could return to the island, Boc watched Onyx's shrinking figure.
Why would he gift him, a weak demihuman so pathetic that his own people didn't want him, a weapon?
XOXO
A cool wind passed them as they stepped onto the grassy inland of Limgrave, a grin crossing Onyx's face.
The Grafted Blade from Castle Morne on his shoulder, the golden halberd from that mounted knight slung across his back, long sword sheathed at his left hip with Sellen's silver staff at his right. Normally he wouldn't have been able to lug around a load of this weight, let alone walk with it, and that still held true, this body still not strong enough to pull off such a feat.
Onyx clenched and unclenched his free hand as he walked, much of his mana focused on actively boosting his strength. He was striking a perfect balance, boosting his capabilities to a degree enough to handle all his equipment but its weight still pulling down his every step. He could nullify the weight entirely but forcing this body that far over its limit required a constant consumption of mana that exceeded how much he was producing.
Better this than burning through his mana quickly.
Blue mist swept up through the grass ahead of them, Torrent appear in their path with a shake of his head. Rather than taking up the offer for a ride, a far different idea formed in Onyx's head.
He hadn't exactly planned out everything they'd be doing. Beyond paying Kalé then Sellen visits, he'd planned on following whatever piqued his curiosity. Other than quickly upping how much mana this body could contain as quickly as possible, he was still figuring out what to do about the parasite still attached to him.
A bit of fun that doubled as a test wouldn't be a problem.
"What do you say to a race, Torrent?" Onyx asked as he and Melina stopped beside him. A snort was his answer. "Come on now. We both know I'm not the same compared to when we were last out here." Another snort. "Alright, alright, if you don't think you can win that's all you had to say. I won't force it."
That basic goading earned him a horned headbutt to his arm, Torrent's gaze turning to meet his. The dark eyes said everything, Torrent completely aware of the angle he was playing at. Even so, this was a matter of pride.
Torrent rubbed his front hoof into the ground, digging grass and dirt, the challenge accepted.
And his dear friend here had pride in spades despite being so lazy.
Melina silently climbed onto Torrent's saddle, taking hold of the reins. He, on the other hand, adjusted his hold on the Grafted Blade, both hands placed on its handle as he lowered his stance.
"First to those ruins Kalé camps in wins." Onyx said, flashing Torrent a grin as they locked eyes one last time. An exhale given, the horse focused ahead of them.
A particularly strong breeze blew by, carrying with it the salty smell of the sea as it rustled the grass around them.
It eased, the rustles settling.
Then, for a moment, ceased completely.
Torrent shot forward, gallop smooth and swift as ever. He truly wasn't like any other horse, clearly at ease despite crossing a distance few could've in such a short time.
Onyx shifted his feet slightly, firmly planting them in the dirt.
Another breeze blew by, the mana flowing through his legs speeding up as far more of the energy traveled through them. Grass and dirt uprooted, with a single step that was more like a leap, he rushed forward, easily crossing the same distance Torrent had managed in his many more steps.
"Had to give you a little head start, kept things interesting!" Onyx called out, his next step not containing nearly as much force or mana, allowing him to remain by Torrent's side. Torrent didn't take the antagonizing comment lying down, shaking his head and picking up the pace, Melina forced to tightened her hold on the reins least she found herself tumbling off.
"This show of power is reckless." Marika stated, projection appearing on Torrent's rear. Her legs and arms were crossed over themselves, hair and dress unaffected by the speeds they were moving. "Thee is powerful, yes. Even so, at present thou lackeths the power to stand against the eyes that will and may have already been drawn in."
"Sounds like a good time."
The hard stare she bore into him, thoroughly unamused by the callous disregard of her warning, didn't last long, the woman vanishing and leaving him to his race with Torrent.
Onyx found himself grinning as he bounded across Limgrave, his hair whipping about.
That high might've passed but damn did he feel good. He wouldn't have said he'd taken it for granted but going without mana for the first time in countless lifetimes made him all the more sensitive to what an amazing power it was.
XOXO
Headed to the Mistwoods. Told my people of you. Should you come across them, they will offer you fair trade.
A sigh slipped free as he lowered the stone in his hand, the small etching complete. He positioned it among the crumbling stones walls in such small writing that it would likely be missed even by the few who knew he'd been set up in this old church. Still, it was a risky thing to do.
Leaving a trail that could be followed rarely resulted in anything good.
Kalé dropped the stone and glanced around, one last check done. His things had been collected, all loaded up on his donkey, all signs of any campfire done away with as well any other evidence that a person had been living within the ruins. Onyx's frequent trades had kept him here while he awaited word. He'd done business with a number of tarnished and those spurred by Grace, but none traded frequently enough to render travel unnecessary the way he did.
Though, he imagined Onyx was also the one behind other recent changes.
Kalé knew better than to indulge in such a feeling least he find himself disappointed, but he did hope that the man was still alive and well. It'd been quite some time since-
Hooves digging up dirt. Quick and soon to cross his path.
Kalé shot up, the short sword at his hip drawn.
The gallop stopped.
Hardly a moment later, a pair leaped over the shortest of the crumbling walls, skidding along the ground and to a stop at the fallen church's center.
"A draw, huh. I guess you're faster than I expected."
A neigh followed.
Kalé lowered his weapon, paranoia fading but surprise remaining. "Onyx?"
The man in question turned to him. "Hey Kalé." Onyx said, eyes shifting from him to his donkey. "Heading out?"
His smile was as friendly as ever, but he was different. The heavy weaponry spread across his body especially stood out. He'd been gaining more muscle with every visit but Onyx's lean build in no way matched up with the strength currently on display, the golden halberd on his back and the giant sword laid across his shoulders appearing as no more than feathers on him.
Even if those things hadn't been weighing him down, how'd he match the leap of the horned stead that accompanied him? And had he been running alongside it?
Kalé trusted his instincts well enough to recognize the faint dark blue glow that pulsed around his eyes, if for but a fraction of a moment, was no mere trick of light or hallucination. Whatever was behind these changes, it had its roots in a power he had no experience with.
He'd have cut a dangerous figure Kalé wouldn't have risked interacting with but his eyes, still holding a friendliness he wasn't sure he could say he saw in those of his own people, eased all sense of danger.
"That is right." Kalé said, eyes jumping from him to the woman on the stead alongside. A golden tinge laid in the single open eye beneath the hood of her black cloak. A native but with a…sort of aura he'd become familiar with during interactions with tarnished.
His maiden.
None of the Golden Order were to be trusted but if there was any certainty regarding them, it was the dogmatic nature of those among their ranks. In ways it made them predictable. So long as it was demanded of them, the Finger Maidens would not turn on the tarnished they were charged with aiding.
So long as it was demanded of them.
"I was headed to the Mistwoods to meet one of my people." Kalé shared. Truthfully, he'd considered heading to the island that Onyx spoke of to ask for assistance but brushing shoulders with the natives had soured that idea. Him arriving now could be a boon that ensured his survival with the things going on up near the Gatefront. "There is a request that I would make of you if the offer for help is still on the table."
He wouldn't have bothered with this if it had been anyone else but Onyx, whatever changed he'd undergone, had shown himself to be a unique one.
One worthy of trust.
A rare sort in these lands.
XOXO
10 Chapters Ahead! -> patr3on .com/Thirdratewriter
(A/N: I will be attempting to upload a chapter every day of the week aside from the weekend. I repeat, making an attempt. You can thank V0id_He4rt for raising the question. I'm just curious to see how well I handle it. In other words, no guarantee of that becoming a regular thing of even succeeding.
That aside, should Onyx shave or keep his growing beard? Maybe something in the middle like a stubble or goatee? Go ahead and leave your opinions here. They'll play a role in deciding what I do with it.)