Several hours later, inside a comfortable room in Xian's and Teyla's house...
It took a few hours, but...I did it. What amounted to thirty-eight fox-kin slaves, all over the Empire, saved one-by-one. Learning from last time, I immediately activated my spell – magic drain – when they arrived in front of me. Also, this time, whenever I found a fox-kin slave that was in a room with others, I incapacitated the others first.
How? By using the same spell I used on Teyla's little dynamic duo I KO'd in the eastern Sanctum plaza. I alchemized free, unbound glucose in their bodies to water. It sends people into hypoglycemic shock, knocking them unconscious. Seizures are a rare, potential side effect, but...it's an acceptable risk for the people in the Empire.
As for where the extra two fox-kin came from, they were in settlements with other fox-kin that I'd previously ascribed to spies in border towns. I eventually realized I could distinguish them from spies with my magic domain's remote CT scan application. The spies tended to hide their tails under their clothes, posing as humans, while the slaves' tails were on full display.
So, yeah...thirty-seven more fox-kin liberated after the young boy. Old, young...infants. Men and women. Mostly lone slaves, but a few families as well. And of course, the situations I plucked them from were variable. Some were lucky...just maids for rich assholes scrubbing dishes in a kitchen at the time. Some wore being worked to the bone, constantly forced to use their elemental magic to exhaustion.
But some...some women we found in situations like the boy, though thankfully no more kids. Some of those were just in pain, terrified and glad to retreat to a safe room here. Some of them hadn't been broken, either through coping or defiant wills, and they were eager to assimilate themselves into fox-kin society. Unfortunately, some were just...vacant. Broken and despondent, with no signs of improvement since.
I glance around the room – me, Zara, Teyla, and Xian drinking tea – noting the silence. Thick, somber...awkward. Xian, catching my gaze, seems to also realize it's unhealthy to dwell on today's horrors. He raises his eyebrows, pointing a finger at me playfully.
"So...not human?" (Xian)
I smirk faintly, shaking my head.
"Nephilim. Race from elven mythology, sometimes called children of the gods." (Mizuki)
He nods, his voice sarcastic.
"Right...of course...those guys..." (Xian)
Another awkward silence descends, and I decide to try improving the mood as well. At least...75% of the mood.
"So, Teyla...given any thought to what Xian's collar is going to say?" (Mizuki)
I see Xian give me a glare full of betrayal, while I see the first smile on Teyla's face in hours, weak though it may be. Her crimson eyes scan me with a tired warmth that I distinctly remember never seeing before.
"Hmm...maybe something like, 'wife number four is my favorite', and let the other seven tear him apart for us?" (Teyla)
My eyes widen in shock.
My gods...she's fucking terrifying. That's diabolical.
I cast a glance at Xian, and sure enough, he's gone white as a sheet. Okay, yeah, so I wasn't wrong about how sinister Teyla's idea is. I can't help but grin faintly at his expense.
"Damn, Xian...how's that big harem working out for you now?" (Mizuki)
He gives me the most serious expression he's ever mustered in our short relationship.
"Mizuki...I legitimately might die over that. A few centuries ago, it was one of my wives that took the first of my tails. A word of advice...don't bring possessive women into your harem. It never ends well." (Xian)
Too late, I think.
Teyla scoffs at Xian, her voice admonishing.
"Of course you'd blame the women, instead of your philandering. Serves you right." (Teyla)
She turns her gaze to me, her expression softening. But...only slightly, for some reason.
"So, Mizuki...will we get to meet your harem? Or at least, this wife that's going to be building the roads and border wall?" (Teyla)
I nod, pretending the question didn't feel charged.
"Yeah, I'll introduce you guys to Nina after the cat-kin visit. Ilina, well...that seems both unnecessary and ill-advised." (Mizuki)
Teyla's expression becomes puzzled.
"Ill-advised? How?" (Teyla)
I purse my lips, considering the best way to answer. However, I hear Zara chuckle first.
"Fufufu...because if she sees you and Mizuki together, she might cause a diplomatic incident." (Zara)
I groan internally...thanks for the tactful contribution, Zara.
Teyla looks at me in surprise, but her eyes also gleam with something that looks faintly like...satisfaction? Her voice is eager, curious.
"You're saying she'd be jealous? The most beautiful woman in the world? Of me? Surely that has to be a mistake. What about me could she be jealous of, hmm?" (Teyla)
I roll my eyes. I've always found it funny when people do this, thinking the answers are something everybody will insist on dancing around.
"Well, I suppose being the sixth most beautiful is still enough to make her nervous, and it's made worse by the fact that I enjoy your company. I think that's what Zara meant." (Mizuki)
Teyla freezes.
If I had to guess, it's because I just subtly dropped her from 'top five' to 'sixth'. Why? Because watching her blow her lid is hilarious, naturally. Don't know why, but something about her whole personality just really screams 'I love being annoyed' to me.
Her eyes narrow.
"You're screwing with me..." (Teyla)
I blink innocently.
"What do you mean?" (Mizuki)
She doesn't even flinch.
"Name five women better looking than me, right now." (Teyla)
Yikes, conceited much? I chuckle internally, though...this is going to be so much fun. I hold up my hand, counting down on my fingers.
"My fiancé – Ilina, my wife – Nina, Ilina's sister – Alara, Ilina's mother – Elira, my friend – Alto, my other friend – Cara-" (Mizuki)
I plan to keep going, naming every woman I've met on Azura, and ending with Percivil, but I don't get the chance. She cuts me off, her jaw clenched, her voice shrill and annoyed.
"That's six!" (Teyla)
I tilt my head, looking back at my counting hand in faux-surprise.
"Huh...so it is. Damn, guess you're seventh at best, then. You know, now that I think about it, maybe it is fine for Ilina to meet you." (Mizuki)
Teyla stammers unintelligibly, an indignant expression on her slowly reddening face. Then, she glances at Zara, incredulous.
"Are these even real people!?" (Teyla)
Zara raises her eyebrows slightly, setting down her tea cup. She nods calmly.
"Yes. I'm not sure if Cara is actually better-looking than you, but she's close. Regardless, they are very real, and Mizuki has bathed with them recently enough to remember their attractiveness. Well, except Elira." (Zara)
My smirk falters, and I turn to Zara in horror. Why would she say that last part!? I study her, appalled, and I notice a faint twitch at the corner of her mouth as she glances at me.
Did she do that on purpose!?
Teyla slowly turns her gaze towards me, her eyes cold, her expression one of disgust. Her voice is low, laced with disdain.
"So, you're an even worse pervert than Xian. At least he marries the women who suffer all his flirting and degeneracy." (Teyla)
Xian absentmindedly raises his tea cup in a mock toast, his eyes still hollow from Teyla's threat of what his collar will be engraved with. His voice is flat.
"Here's to me, a dead man with principles..." (Xian)
And just like that, our lighthearted banter carried on. Until everyone's minds had successfully moved on from the horrors of the past few hours.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Some time later...
"So, Perv, how does this work?" (Teyla)
Teyla walks over to Zara and I, now wearing a travel pack and a more comfortable robe. It's just past noon now, and we're standing in a private courtyard within the Sanctum, away from prying eyes. We're preparing to depart for the cat-kin, whose exact location is unknown to all of us.
I sigh dejectedly, giving her a deadpan look.
"Like I told you, I've lived with most of them, and we only have a communal bath in our mansion. I've even asked them to be less...liberated, in the house. I'm neither taking advantage of them, nor a pervert. Ask Zara if you don't believe me." (Mizuki)
Teyla glances at Zara skeptically, who just nods, then she glares at me again.
"Whatever...how does your instant transportation magic work?" (Teyla)
I shake my head.
"For this, it doesn't. I can only do that for places I've visited before. Today...we fly." (Mizuki)
Teyla blinks. She gives a weak laugh, her eyes scanning me anxiously.
"That's funny...I could have sworn you said we are flying." (Teyla)
I smirk.
"Oh...I did. Hold onto me tightly if you don't want to fall to your death!" (Mizuki)
Without a moment's hesitation, I activate my stealthy flight-related spells, and begin lifting us all into the air. Zara, a veteran flier, gives a small smile and merely places a hand on my shoulder as she feels her body becoming lighter. Teyla, though...
"MIZUKI WAIT!" (Teyla)
Her eyes widen to saucers, her voice shrill with fear. She practically leaps at me, wrapping her arms – and legs – around me, like a damn koala. As we rise into the air, I can't help but chuckle out loud.
"Fufufufu...I don't know where you get off calling me the pervert, getting this handsy with me." (Mizuki)
Teyla looks at me, murder in her eyes. Though, her grip doesn't loosen at all.
"Are all Nephilim sadistic, sick in the head bastards?" (Teyla)
I raise my eyebrows. What a mouth on her...jeez. Still, I smile like I just received a compliment.
"Actually, wouldn't you know it, I'm the nicest Nephilim in the whole world. Anyway...Zara, what can you tell me about the cat-kin?" (Mizuki)
While Teyla blinks, bewildered, Zara shrugs.
"Very little, sadly. The cat-kin have been isolated even longer than the fox-kin, staying to their remote region of demi-human lands. Nobody from my tribe has seen one in centuries, so we know very little about them. That's why I can't tell you an exact location. All I can tell you is that, unlike other demi-humans, they have dark class affinities." (Zara)
My brow furrows in confusion.
"Wait, seriously? But I saw plenty of cat-kin around Elmesia. Have you not?" (Mizuki)
In fact, the distinctive cat people were the first demi-humans I saw on Azura, even before making it to the guild and seeing Melena. I've seen them around the city almost every time I walk through the streets, so I'm hard pressed to imagine Zara having missed them.
Realization seems to dawn on Zara's face, and she shakes her head.
"Sorry, I forgot you wouldn't know the difference offhand. The race that you saw is considered separate from the cat-kin tribes here on Azura. They're called the Kodkod..." (Zara)
Zara goes on to elaborate that the cat-kin are somewhat unique among the various demi-human races, in that they are an amalgamation of sub-races – tiger-kin, lion-kin, leopard-kin, panther-kin, and more. The Kodkod – the cat people who looked like a fusion of human and house cat to me – used to be one of them as well, but no more.
Apparently, bloodlines, lineage, and strength are big in cat-kin culture. The Kodkod were considered weaker than all other sub-races, offering nothing unique to the larger tribe, so their entire bloodline was treated like second-class citizens. Eventually, the Kodkod decided to defect to escape it.
Needless to say, that doesn't leave me optimistic about the impending meeting with the 'real' cat-kin.