It took a while for everyone to process everything they were reading, but the results of said reading were very clear. Cici looked amused as she gazed upon everyone in the room who still hadn't fully come to terms with what I was. Shit, I don't even think I'd fully come to terms with what I was. Despite being incredibly powerful, I still just felt like myself. More confident and sure, yes, but a large part of that was due to my power.
I looked over at Clarissa, who was still blushing furiously as she re-read my stats for what was probably the 5th time. Her outburst earlier really seemed to have embarrassed her, even though it seemed like a pretty normal reaction. Granted, I don't think I've ever heard her curse before. Honestly, I thought it was pretty funny, and kinda cute.
"Master Elias.." Benji said, the first one to break the silence, "I've read many stories... heard many stories... some of them mentioned the Divine... the Gods, and even fewer of them spoke of Primordials..."
Benji paused for a moment, and then looked at me with big awestruck eyes.
"You are both. It says it right here. You are an ancient and powerful being..." He said, and that actually made me snort.
"Benji, I'm 25. You can clearly see that." I replied, and he shook his head.
"Not what I meant... how do I explain it?" He asked.
"You have power that defies what we thought was possible... some people have faith, but many believe the Gods, and other beings in that sense, are a myth. No one has heard from any of them, or has seen any of them. At least... not until now." Serena added, and Benji nodded.
"Those stories are old... very old. Some are as old as recorded history. As I said... ancient." Benji continued, but I just shrugged.
"Well... I'm not. I don't even know that much about myself. All I know is that whoever my parents were, they used a ritual to transfer a bunch of stats and knowledge to me, and then dropped me off on Earth. I don't even really think about it that much. I don't much care what or who I am supposed to be. I'm just me." I replied, getting a beautiful smile from Cici.
"Eli is the same as when I first met him. Well, he's a lot stronger obviously, and he definitely doesn't shy away from the nasty stuff, but he is just Eli, and right now, he's worried that you'll all start treating him differently because of this. He doesn't want that. He just wanted to tell you all the truth because he trusts you all. The same goes for me. He also wanted to reassure you and your sister that he can, and will, help you." Cici added, finishing her sentence with her eyes landing on the two fox siblings.
"Cici's right. My entire life has been... well, kind of hell, and being here, surrounded by all of you... I feel like I have actual friends." I said, and realizing only now how true that was.
I guess I had never really considered how friends should and shouldn't act until I came to this world, and met so many different people that I could consider my friends. Keith was not as good of a friend as I remember now that I think about it, but since him and Rachel were the only people I had ever really thought of as friends until coming here, it seemed normal to me. The talking behind my back, the smartass replies, always being too busy to just hangout despite him never actually having anything going on... That being said, I could at least tolerate Rachel now, knowing what I know now... but I don't think there was any reconciliation with Keith. Not that it matters now. Hell, I didn't even really think about him any more, and I felt indifferent to the fact that he was dead... and I'm not really sure what that says about me.
"How come... you never told me?" Clarissa asked softly, breaking me out of my thoughts.
I looked at her, and I lowered my head.
"I'm sorry, Clarissa... to be honest, I wasn't really thinking about it that much, and at the time when we first met, I still wasn't sure who I could trust." I said, and seeing the still sad look in her eyes, I continued, "I had just recently decided that I was going to tell you, given what is going on between us. I just... ended up telling everyone else too."
She seemed more mollified by that. She understood, I could tell that much, but she did still look a bit sad that I didn't tell her before I told everyone else, and yeah... I kinda understood that now.
"I hope you'll let me make it up to you soon. Perhaps tonight?" I asked, giving a smile and a knowing look.
The slightly sad expression was replaced by the cutest reddending of her cheeks that I'd ever seen her make, but after a moment, she gave me a smile.
"I'd... like that... if you aren't busy with... well, this." She said, gesturing at Benji and Serena, "I want you to help them too... what they've went through sounds awful."
"It's fine. We both need a day or two to prepare... or at least, I do." Benji said, fidgeting slightly, "We haven't been there in so long, and I'm afraid of what we'll find."
"Me too... I'm scared." Serena added woth worry.
I reached out, and a put a hand on both of their shoulders, causing them to look at me.
"Just tell me when you are ready, and we'll go. You'll both be able to see your parents again, "I said, and then I squeezed Benji's shoulder as I locked both of my eyes with his, "And we will get your lady back. I won't allow this."
Both of their eyes watered as they nodded, sniffling as they gave me grateful looks. Serena even put her hand over the one I had on her shoulder, and squeezed. The look in their eyes when they told me about what happened, and the tears of anguish they cried when explaining their situation to me... it lit a fire inside of me that raged. No one makes the people I care about feel like this. I will fucking end this guy.
There was a brief moment where no one said anything, until Valerie's voice entered the mix once more.
"So... what should I call you? Lor-" She said, but my quick gaze cut her off.
"Just... Eli." I said with a sigh, before meeting the gazes of everyone in the room, "I just want everyone to call me Eli. Please."
My words were met with smiles. Well, mostly. Valerie still looked a little uncertain, but that was still a work in progress overall. Delvin really fucked her up mentally, and that was after being locked in a dark place for her entire life. I swear... I will find every last one of those people and end them for what they did to my Val...
I actually had to pause, and think about what I was just thinking. Valerie hadn't even been with us for that long, and I was already calling her mine? I mean... it wasn't the worst sounding thing in the world. I didn't have much time to ponder my own thoughts further before Cici giggled in my mind.
"You see? You're already accepting the idea far more easily." She said in my mind, before her tone turned more serious, "But I agree with you. I want them to pay just as much as you for what they did to her."
When she put it that way, it did sound a lot better. The thought of people hurting, demeaning, or even looking at Cici wrong, for example, pissed me off to no end, and the results of people that did those things speak for themselves. I had started feeling that way about Clarissa more recently as well, and now? Now, those thoughts were being directed at Valerie, and if things went the way Cici thought they would... hell, Sheila was more than making her intentions known, and Serena... well, she was shy, but I could see it in her eyes, and how nervous she got sometimes.
"You're so unlucky." Cici deadpanned in my mind, and I almost snorted outloud.
"I will do my best... Eli." Valerie said, still too hesitantly, but again, we'd get there, "No matter who or what you... I owe you everything... thank you again. Thank you so much." She said, bowing her head to me.
"Don't bow, Valerie. You're not a slave anymore, and I'm not your Master. We're friends, right?" I asked, and she smiled at me with trembling lips.
Seeing that smile was worth everything I had done to free her and more. She had a beautiful and radiant smile, and those long canines of hers honestly made her stand out... and yeah, I liked them a lot. They were sexy if I'm being honest.
The conversations slowed down after that, mainly with people asking me questions about my skills, and Sheila in particular was really interested in my bond skill, go figure, and that proceeded another shocking revelation for everyone as Cici shared her stats with every as well. Cici blushed furiously as everyone praised and admired her, and I couldn't help but smile.
"I can't believe this cute little thing is so much stronger than me." Sheila said to Cici, making her cheeks flush a deeper red, but Sheila didn't at all appear upset by it.
"Abyssal Beastkin... that sounds cool." Benji said, getting nods from everyone.
Serena's face was pink as she had trouble meeting my gaze.
"So... when it says... your seed... does it mean...?" She asked, unable to even finish the sentence, and I had to hold back a sigh.
"It... does." I said, which only made her blush more.
She wasn't the only one. Valerie was still reading everything, but upon hearing my explanation to Serena, her cheeks darkened, and she coughed. Clarissa legitimately had her hands over her cheeks, no doubt thinking about where everything about us might lead. That... well, it definitely had me looking forward to seeing where it all went, that was for sure. Sheila on the other hand... given the slightly lustful eyes she gave me, I had no doubt that woman would definitely be a handful if she stuck around, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't want her to.
After a moment, there was yet another knock on our door, and I gestured for Cici and everyone else to just relax as I stood up, and walked over to the door.
"Elias." Martin said as I opened the door, and I smiled at him.
"Hey, long time no see." I said, and that made him chuckle.
"Yes. It truly has been too long, hasn't it?" He joked, and then looked behind me, "Are you having a party in here?"
I laughed and shook my head.
"No, we're all just hanging out and talking. What's up?" I asked.
"Well, I wanted to remind you about what I said earlier about the Adventurer's Guild. Phillander is actually expecting to see you some time today. I figured you might want to do it sometime soon, especially if you have plans to sight see or what have you later."
That's right. He mentioned that the Guild Master was going to wave my test, and also give me a Guild Amulet so I could join. I definitely wanted to do that. There wasn't a whole lot going on right now, as everyone had calmed down and were just chatting away.
"Yeah, I got some time. I do have date a later today, so getting it done now would be smart." I said, and Martin grinned at me.
"Ah, yes. That is definitely very important. Taking your wife out to see the sights?" He asked me.
"Not yet. She wants to wait a bit." I said, not at all mentioning the reason why, "I'm taking Clarissa."
His eyes widened slightly for a bit, but then he just chuckled and shook his head.
"Of course you are." He said, then he winked at me, "Well, I won't take any more of your time for now. I hope everything at the Guild goes well for you, and please... do enjoy your date."
He turned and walked away after that, and I just smiled. I would do my best to enjoy myself before the eventual shit hit the fan, because after hearing what I heard today, I couldn't wait to fuck this "Raizen" up. But for today? Guild stuff, and then Clarissa.
"Yeah, today should be fun." I said, smirking as I closed the door and rejoined my friends for a bit.