Three days later, they had explored outside the city and hunted for some resources, selling them for some easy cash and to get some much needed supplies
Five days left on the quest timer.
She pulled up her status screen, needing to see where she stood
[STATUS]
Name: Rem
Level: 8
STR: 11 + 5 (boost from mark) = 16
DEX: 12 + 5 (boost from mark) = 17
END: 12 + 5 (boost from mark) = 17
VIT: 12 + 5 (boost from mark) = 17
CHA: 22
LST: 19/100
HP: 350/350
Stamina: 280/280
Mana: 380/380
Unspent Stat Points: 6
Available LP: 6500
SKILLS:
- Mutilate (Rank C, Apprentice): Devastating finishing attack on wounded enemies
- Basic Strike (Rank D, Apprentice): Foundation combat techniques
- Seduction Basics (Path of Desire, Rank Ex Master): Natural grace, +2 CHA
- Desire Sense (Tier 1 Skill Tree): Sense arousal/emotions in 30ft radius
- Corrupted Resilience (Tier 1 Skill Tree): +2 VIT, LST growth reduced 20%
ACTIVE ABILITIES:
- Phantom Step: Short teleport 10ft, leaves afterimage, 50 mana, 30s cooldown
- Phantom Climax: Trigger orgasm 30s, 50 mana
ITEMS:
- Iron Longsword (Equipped)
- Lingerie x2 (black lace, red silk)
- Night clothes x1
- Rations x10
- Health Potions x6
- Stamina Potions x4
- Aria's Kiss - Enchanted Lipstick (10 charges)
- 45 Gold Coins
- Wet panty (from first time with Kaisen)
STATUS EFFECTS:
- Seduction Basics (Permanent)
- Divine Mark (Aria's Claim)
The wet panty in her inventory made her grimace. The system automatically stored everything, apparently including embarrassing reminders of getting fingered senseless.
"Time to spend some points," she muttered, focusing on the skill tree interface.
The Tier 1: Foundation tree expanded before her vision:
TIER 1: FOUNDATION
[Unlock Requirement: Complete Aria's Attention Quest : done]
CORE BRANCH:
Seduction Basics (STARTING SKILL) ✓ PURCHASED
Desire Sense (150 LP) PURCHASED
Sensual Grace (150 LP) [AVAILABLE]
Effect: +3 DEX when observed by attracted individuals
Movement becomes hypnotically fluid
Intimate Whisper (220 LP) [AVAILABLE]
Effect: Speak directly into target's mind for 5 minutes
Range: 30ft, requires eye contact
DOMINATION BRANCH:
Charm (200 LP) [AVAILABLE]
Effect: Target more receptive to suggestions, 10 min duration
LST Impact: +0.5 per use
Allure (300 LP) [AVAILABLE]
Effect: Constant weak attraction aura, 15ft radius, +2 CHA
LST Impact: 0.1/hour passive drain (toggleable)
SUBMISSION BRANCH:
Yielding Essence (200 LP) [AVAILABLE]
Effect: +3 END when following orders
25% stamina regen while submissive
Vulnerability Display (180 LP) [AVAILABLE]
Effect: Show weakness to attract protectors
Nearby allies +2 STR, you +3 VIT for 15 min
SURVIVAL BRANCH:
Cum Addict (100 LP) [AVAILABLE]
Effect: Can sustain on sexual fluids (replaces food)
Temporary +1 END per serving (max 5 stacks, 6hr duration)
LST Impact: +0.1 per consumption
Warning: Regular use increases dependency
Corrupted Resilience (PURCHASED)
Rem studied the options carefully. With 6500 LP available, she could afford several purchases. For seducing Altaria within five days, she needed maximum effectiveness.
"What are you thinking, toy?" Aria's voice whispered through the mark. "Going to make yourself irresistible?"
"I'm thinking I need practical tools for the job you're forcing me to do," Rem replied dryly.
Her selections were:
Sensual Grace (150 LP) - Enhanced movement would help during close interactions
Intimate Whisper (220 LP) - Direct mental communication could bypass Altaria's defenses
Charm (200 LP) - Making suggestions more persuasive was essential
Allure (300 LP) - Constant attraction aura would work passively
Total: 870 LP
She would definitely regret it later when they reached the capital, all this attention was too much and to think she would ever add it.
But before confirming, she checked the items shop. Focusing on "Shop"
[LUST SYSTEM SHOP - ITEMS]
CONSUMABLES:
- Aphrodisiac Perfume (24hr duration): 300 LP
- Libido Enhancement Pills (increases target's arousal): 200 LP
- Stamina Recovery Pills (restore 100 stamina): 150 LP
- Mana Potions (restore 50 mana): 100 LP
- Temporary CHA Boost Potion (+5 CHA for 2 hours): 250 LP
EQUIPMENT:
- Enchanted Jewelry (passive +2 CHA): 400 LP
- Seductive Attire Set (grants Allure effect without skill): 500 LP
- Silk Bondage Ropes (magical, unbreakable): 150 LP
TOOLS:
- Essence Collector (stores sexual fluids for later consumption): 200 LP
- Pleasure Toys (various, enhanced): 100-300 LP each
- Aphrodisiac Incense (affects room occupants): 250 LP
SPECIAL:
- Mark Concealment Charm (24hr): 800 LP
- Gender Transformation Potion (temporary, 6hr): 2000 LP
"Oh fuck yes," Rem muttered, seeing the Gender Transformation Potion. Her male past briefly surfaced—the desire to experience that form again, even temporarily. But 2000 LP was steep, and she had priorities.
She added to her cart:
Aphrodisiac Perfume (300 LP)
Mana Potions x3 (300 LP)
Enchanted Jewelry (400 LP)
New total: 870 + 1000 = 1870 LP spent
Remaining: 4630 LP
She confirmed the purchases. The new skills integrated into her consciousness immediately. The perfume, mana potions, and a delicate silver necklace materialized in her inventory.
Now for stat points. Six to allocate.
She put:
+2 CHA (bringing her to 24base, 26 with new jewelry)
+2 DEX
+2 VIT
[UPDATED STATUS]
STR: 16 (11+5)
DEX: 21 (14+5+2 from Sensual Grace when watched)
END: 17 (12+5)
VIT: 19 (14+5)
CHA: 26 (24+2)
LST: 19/100
"Excellent choices, toy," Aria purred. "You're becoming quite the seductress. That innocent priestess won't know what hit her."
Rem dismissed the interface and got dressed. The enchanted necklace appeared around her neck—thin silver chain with a small pendant that pulsed with subtle magic. She checked herself in the mirror.
The difference was immediate. Her movements had a fluid quality now, even without Sensual Grace fully active. The CHA boost made her features slightly sharper, more defined, did her boobs grew again? Combined with the mark's existing modifications, she looked dangerously attractive.
-------------------------------------
Rem was eating breakfast alone in the common room when Altaria's voice rang out from upstairs: "He's waking! He's waking up!"
Everyone had rushed to Marcus's room. Kaisen, Elise, Rem converging on the small space where their former healer had been recovering.
Marcus's eyes fluttered open, unfocused and confused. He blinked several times, his consciousness slowly returning after nearly a week of darkness.
"Marcus?" Altaria leaned over him, her copper hair falling forward. "Can you hear me? You're safe. You're in a settlement church. I've been healing you."
Marcus's mouth moved but no sound came out initially. He swallowed, then tried again. "How... long?"
"Six days," Kaisen said from the doorway. "You've been unconscious for six days. We fought the alphas but you got injured badly. Altaria here saved your life."
Marcus's eyes moved between the faces surrounding him—Altaria's concerned expression, Kaisen's carefully neutral one, Elise hovering behind him looking worried, and Rem leaning against the wall with arms crossed.
"I remember..." Marcus's voice was rough from disuse. "The wolf. Pain. Then nothing."
"You nearly died," Altaria said gently. "The wounds were severe. A mid-tier healing potion stabilized you initially, but you needed extensive care afterward."
Marcus tried to sit up but winced, and Altaria helped support him. He looked down at himself. clean bandages, healed skin where terrible wounds had been. His body was intact.
But something felt wrong.
As a healer, Marcus's first instinct when checking his own condition was reaching for his mana. It was automatic, like breathing. He closed his eyes to focus, searching for the familiar warmth of his magical core...
Nothing.
He tried again, pushing harder. Nothing. No response. No connection to the magical pathways that had been part of him.
Panic spiked through him. "I can't... I can't feel my mana."
The room went silent.
Marcus's breathing quickened. He tried again, desperately reaching for magic that should be there. "Why can't I feel it? What's wrong?"
Altaria's expression shifted to something heartbreaking—pity mixed with guilt. "Marcus... your mana core was damaged in the attack. The wolf's claws punctured through your back and stomach, and the trauma to the area where your core resides was... severe."
"Damaged? So heal it. Use restoration magic. There are spells—"
"I tried everything," Altaria said softly. "Every healing technique I know. The physical wounds healed, but the core itself..." She paused. "It's shattered, Marcus. The damage is permanent. You won't be able to channel mana again."
The words hung in the air like a death sentence.
Marcus stared at her, processing. Then he shook his head. "No. No, that's not possible. Cores don't just shatter. If a core breaks, the person dies immediately. Everyone knows that."
"Usually, yes," Altaria confirmed. "But yours didn't break completely—it fractured. The pieces are still there but they're not connected anymore. You're alive, which is miraculous. But the magical pathways are severed beyond repair."
"Beyond repair," Marcus repeated numbly. "So I'm... I'm not a healer anymore. I can't cast magic. I can't do anything I've trained my entire life to do?"
"You're alive," Kaisen offered. "That's what matters."
Marcus's head snapped toward him, and something dark flashed in his eyes. "Alive. Right. Alive and completely fucking useless."
For a moment, Marcus just sat there processing. Rem watched him carefully, recognizing this wasn't the tragedy she'd written in her original draft. She'd killed Marcus off at the alpha fight, a quick, heroic death saving the party. Clean narrative closure.
This was uncharted territory. And she could see the moment devastation transformed into rage.
"Where were you?" Marcus asked quietly, his voice dangerous.
"What?" Kaisen asked.
"During the fight. When that wolf attacked me. Where were all of you?"
The question wasn't confused curiosity. It was an accusation.
"We were fighting," Kaisen said carefully. "The lightning alpha, the fire alpha, the pack wolves. Everyone was engaged—"
"I was a HEALER," Marcus interrupted, his voice rising. "I wasn't built for combat. I was support. MY job was keeping you alive. YOUR job was keeping ME alive so I could do that."
"Marcus—" Elise started.
"Don't." He cut her off with venom. "Don't fucking talk to me right now."
He tried to stand but his body was too weak. He stumbled, managing to catch himself against the bed. Altaria reached to help him but he shoved her hand away.
"I came with you," Marcus said, and now the rage was fully surfacing. "I left a safe position in the capital. I joined your insane quest into dangerous some backwater town and even guided you through that damn forest. Why? I trusted you, your family, you helped me when i needed it, and i have spent the rest of my life repaying that... this is how im rewarded?!!"
Elise looked genuinely stricken. "I didn't know—"
"YOU DIDN'T KNOW?" Marcus's voice cracked. "You didn't know that fighting three-core alpha monsters was dangerous? That a healer with no combat training might need protection?"
"We tried—" Kaisen began.
"Bullshit!" Marcus lunged at him, or tried to. His legs gave out halfway and he collapsed. But the intention was clear
Altaria moved to catch him but he thrashed away from her touch. "Don't fucking touch me. Any of you."
He was on his hands and knees now, breathing hard and shaking with rage and weakness. "I protected YOU. I kept YOU alive while you went off playing hero, fucking that bitch!!. And when I needed you, where were you?"
"The alphas—" Kaisen tried again.
"I don't care about the goddamn alphas!" Marcus screamed. "My mana core is gone!! i cant even feel my mana, my life is over... over!!"
He finally managed to stand, swaying but upright. His eyes moved between them—Kaisen, Elise, Rem. Hatred burned in them with raw and unfiltered venom
"I hate you," he said simply. "All of you. But especially you." He pointed at Elise. "You brought me here. This is YOUR fault."
Elise's face crumpled at those painful words. "Marcus, please—"
"Get out," Marcus said. "All of you. Get the fuck out of this room."
Nobody moved immediately.
"I SAID GET OUT!"
They left. What else could they do?
Outside Marcus's room, the group stood in uncomfortable silence.
Elise was crying softly, her shoulders shaking and tears falling. Kaisen put a hand on her shoulder but she shrugged it off, needing space.
And Rem? Rem was fucking furious.
"Unbelievable," she muttered.
"Rem-" Kaisen started.
"No, seriously. Unbelievable." Rem's voice was sharp, cutting the tension "He blames us? He blames US?"
"He's in shock," Altaria said gently, having followed them out. "He just lost everything. People say things—"
"I don't care what state he's in," Rem interrupted. "He doesn't get to blame us for his choices. Nobody forced him to come. Elise asked him, yes. But he CHOSE to accept. He knew the risks of traveling with an adventuring party into such a dangerous territory."
"He has just woken up" Altaria protested. "Plus im sure this can come as a-"
"He is an adult who should chose his words carefully" Rem cut her off. "That's reality. We were ALL fighting for our lives. Kaisen and i were on the brink of death, Elise was managing crowd control. We didn't 'let' Marcus get hurt. we were fucking busy not dying ourselves."
She looked at Elise specifically. "And you have nothing to apologize for. You didn't lie to him. You didn't promise safety. Nobody can promise safety in this kind of world!."
"But I did ask him to come," Elise said through tears. "If I hadn't—"
"Then we wouldn't have had a healer and someone else might be dead," Rem said bluntly. "You can't play the 'what if' game. It's pointless."
Kaisen was watching Rem carefully. "You're angry."
"Of course I'm fucking angry. We nearly died too. We lost our wagon, most of our supplies, almost didn't survive. And now he acts like we all mean nothing?" Rem shook her head. "No. I refuse to accept that guilt."
"His life is ruined," Altaria said quietly.
"His life isn't ruined. His MAGIC is gone. Those aren't the same thing." Rem's voice was hard. "He's alive, healthy otherwise, young enough to learn new skills. If he's too much of a coward to figure out what to do with the life we saved, that's on him. Not us."
The harshness of her words made everyone flinch. But Aria's voice whispered approval through the mark: "There's my toy. Anger looks so much better on you than guilt. You're right to be furious."
"Rem," Kaisen said carefully, "I understand you're upset, but—"
"But nothing!! I'm done pretending we owe him endless apologies for this" She started walking toward the stairs. "I'm going out. I need air."
Rem didn't care. She'd spent too much of her previous life feeling guilty for things that weren't her fault. She wasn't doing that here.
Marcus could rot in his anger for all she cared.
-------------------------------------------------------
By afternoon, Marcus had made his position clear through Altaria: he wanted nothing to do with them and that He was staying in the settlement, leaving their party
The group gathered in the inn's common room to discuss this, but she was still pissed.
"We can't force him to come," Kaisen said. "And honestly, I don't want someone who hates us that much in the party. It's a liability."
"He needs care," Altaria protested weakly.
"Which you can provide," Elise said, her eyes still red from crying. "Or the settlement can find someone else to help him adjust. We can leave money for his recovery and retraining."
"He'll refuse it," Rem predicted.
"Then that's his choice," Kaisen said firmly. "We're leaving in two days. Marcus can stay here and figure out his new life but we move forward."
Altaria looked conflicted but nodded slowly. The reality was setting in—the party was leaving with or without Marcus. And she had to decide if she was going with them.
"Two days," she repeated. "I'll... I'll help him get settled. Make sure the settlement knows his situation. Then I'll decide."
But everyone could see she'd already decided. She wanted to go. The guilt over leaving Marcus was the only thing holding her back.
Rem caught Altaria's eye across the table. holding her gaze for a moment. She saw the longing there, the desire to leave this place, shacked.
Five days left. She had five days to tip that balance fully in their favor.
The next afternoon, Rem found Altaria in the church organizing medical supplies. The priestess looked exhausted— there were dark circles under her bright green eyes, and her copper hair was slightly disheveled.
"Want to take a break?" Rem asked from the doorway. "Walk with me?"
Altaria looked up, surprised, she and rem had not bonded much but she wanted to "Yes. Please. I need to get away from all this for a bit."
They walked through the settlement in a comfortable silence initially. The weather was pleasant, the warm sun, light breeze carrying the scent of growing crops from nearby fields. Common folk went about their day, offering friendly nods to Altaria.
"Everyone knows you here," Rem observed.
"I've lived here my entire life," Altaria said. "Healed most of them at some point. It's... familiar."
"But lonely?"
Altaria glanced at her, startled by the perception. "How did you...?"
"Just a guess," Rem lied. "You help everyone but nobody really knows you."
"That's exactly it." Altaria's voice was quiet. "They see me as the priestess, The healer. But they don't see... me. I want to do more than fix a broken bone or reduce a fever... something worthy."
Rem's new Sensual Grace activated as Altaria watched her walk. The movement became hypnotically fluid, drawing Altaria's eyes without her realizing why.
They reached a quiet garden area near the church, it was quite but still held a warm atmosphere. Rem sat on a stone bench, patting the space beside her for Altaria. She soon joined her, sitting close enough that their shoulders nearly touched.
"Tell me about what you want," Rem said. "If you could have anything."
Altaria hesitated for a bit. "I want to see the world. The capital cities, the magical forests, I want to meet people who don't know me .' I want to have adventures, experience things I've only read about."
"So why don't you?"
"Because it's selfish," Altaria said immediately. "People here need me. Leaving would be abandoning them...."
Rem activated Intimate Whisper, establishing eye contact as the requirement. When she spoke, her voice appeared directly in Altaria's mind like a breath against her ear.
"What if serving others is just an excuse? What if you're afraid of wanting things for yourself?"
Altaria gasped softly, eyes widening. "How are you—"
"Answer the question," Rem's mental voice insisted.
"I..." Altaria looked away, breaking contact and ending the skill. "Maybe. Maybe I am afraid. I've spent so long being what others need that I don't know how to want things just for me."
Rem reached out, gently turning Altaria's face back toward her. The Aphrodisiac Touch activated on contact as subtle warmth spread from Rem's fingers into Altaria's skin.
"Then learn," Rem said aloud. "You deserve to want things. To have experiences. To be selfish sometimes."
Altaria's breath hitched slightly. The touch felt different, charged in a way she couldn't identify. Warmth bloomed where Rem's fingers contacted her jaw, spreading through her body in a pleasant wave.
"I've never..." Altaria started, then stopped. "Why do I feel strange around you?"
"Strange how?"
"Warm. Like every time you're near, my body..." She trailed off, embarrassed.
Rem didn't push but stayed close, she let the Allure aura work passively. The constant weak attraction effect was subtle, building desire over time rather than overwhelming the poor girl.
They sat in silence for a while, shoulders touching now, as Altaria proceeded her feelings Rem checked her harem interface discreetly:
Altaria: Seduction Progress: 30%
Feelings: Strongly attracted (confused why),but trusts you deeply, desires your company and approval
Current State: Questioning her vows and duty, pulled toward leaving with group
"Will you come with us?" Rem asked eventually. "When we leave tomorrow?"
"I don't know," Altaria admitted. "Part of me desperately wants to. But the people-"
"You are an adult. You can make your own choices about your life. You can't sacrifice your dreams because someone else is in need"
"That sounds cruel."
"It's honest. There's a difference." Rem stood, offering her hand. "Come on. Let's walk more."
Altaria took her hand. The touch sent another pulse of warmth through her and straying her mind away from focus. She didn't let go immediately even after standing.
They walked hand-in-hand for a few steps before Altaria realized and pulled away, blushing. "Sorry, I—"
"Don't apologize," Rem said easily. "I didn't mind~"
They continued walking, talking about lighter things—magic, funny stories from travels, dreams about places they'd go. The conversation flowed naturally, building a small but deep connection.
By the time they returned to the inn, Altaria was smiling despite everything. And Rem knew the seduction was progressing exactly as needed.
Dinner that night was subdued. Marcus didn't join them yet Altaria had brought him food separately, and he'd barely spoken to her.
The group sat together at their usual corner table. Kaisen, Elise, Rem, and now Altaria.
"We're leaving the day after," Kaisen announced. "I've arranged to purchase a new wagon from the settlement and even a timber beast. We have supplies and the beast will be much faster than any horse"
Altaria's fork stopped halfway to her mouth. "That .. soon."
"We've stayed longer than planned already," Kaisen said gently. "Marcus is stable. You've done everything you can for him. The settlement knows his situation. He'll be cared for."
"But I—" Altaria started.
Altaria looked at Rem, and their eyes met across the table. Something unspoken passed between them—understanding of a deeper level, trust
"The offer stands," Kaisen said. "You can travel with us, be able to see the world beyond this small town You're an incredible healer, and we'd be honored to have you."
"Plus," Elise added with a small smile, "we could use another woman in the group. Balance out all this testosterone."
Altaria laughed despite herself. "I... I need to think. Give me tonight. I'll have an answer in the morning."
"That's fair," Kaisen agreed.
After dinner, as they dispersed to their rooms, Rem caught Altaria's eyes one more time. The priestess held her gaze, something conflicted but hungry in her expression.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Rem lay in bed that night, unable to sleep despite exhaustion. Her mind raced through calculations:
[QUEST STATUS CHECK] ARIA'S FAVORITE - Part 3: The Appetite Grows
Time Remaining: 4 days, 16 hours
Altaria Seduction: 30% complete (0/1 encounters needed)
Failure : Mark becomes permanently visible on forearm
Thirty percent wasn't enough. She needed to accelerate. Tomorrow they'd be traveling, and the opportunity would be different. Tonight might be the moment.
But she couldn't just knock on Altaria's door. That would be too forward, too predatory. She needed—
Three soft knocks interrupted her thoughts freezing rem's thoughts
It was well past midnight and everyone should be asleep. Who would...?
Another knock come. Hesitant and Almost apologetic.
She got up and crossed to the door in an instant. "Who is it?"
There was silence for a second Then a soft, familiar voice: "It's me. Altaria. Can... can I come in?"
Rem's heart rate spiked. The fuck? She opened the door hastily, trying to act sleepy
Altaria stood there in her nightclothes—simple white shift that fell to her knees, her hair was loose around her shoulders and her bright green eyes were shining in the dark.
"I couldn't sleep," Altaria said quietly. "I kept thinking about what you said. About wanting things. being selfish." She paused. "Can we talk?"
Rem stepped aside, letting her in.
The two women stood in Rem's small room, lit only by moonlight through the window. The air felt charged with possibility and rem's own arousal, luckily the mark wasn't glowing.
"What do you want to talk about?" Rem asked carefully.
Altaria looked at her for a long moment. Then, barely above a whisper: "Why do I feel this way around you?"