The following content is based on the main timeline, featuring content left off from chapter 5.
…
Steve was amused. The kidnapper was running around her house, in an attempt to set up a few more religious symbols. She was convinced that the entity in the basement was sent out by some demon, in order to kill her, so she started praying to every god out there to save, and protect her soul!
Well, she was hustling with the gods, she was trying to gain their protection without actually believing in the decree that the gods bestowed amongst frogs. There were seven altars in her house alone, which hinted what her true intentions were. She tried to trick the divines, which was funny!
There were marble tables everywhere, and they were packed with religious symbols, or statues of which one could pray to! It was apparent that this wasn't the first day where she had to deal with entities, she had depended on the protection of the gods for a while now, and at the same time she had been seeking knowledge from foul creatures, from demons that were so evil that her froggy mind could simply not comprehend it!
This was not noble whatsoever. If she was caught doing these things by her neighbors, then she would surely have been burned alive already!
Anyway, while she tried to save her naked hide, Steve chatted along with the system. He had the space to do so, and since he received a reward for 'escaping' that torture room in the basement, he got this reward that he tried to put into use!
"Okay, so my strength and agility or whatever, is at level three now, I bought that upgrade down there when this cow fed me a potion. Now, what can I buy with 55 points? Can I buy something good, because this upgraded strength isn't doing me any good right now, system, I can barely walk! I feel like you made me spend 45 points for nothing." He chatted, inwardly.
[Not nothing, the upgrade helped you endure the most brutal of torture. If you had been fed anything, then you would've had enough strength to overpower your enemy already.] She countered.
Afterwards, she added. [As for another upgrade, you can't buy anything in particular right now, because your sum of points is low, however, I can make you a one time offer that'll put you 20 system points in debt, in debt to me that is. The flow and quantity of your mana is slow, all clogged up and disruptive. For 75 points, I can 'unclog' it for you, and this will help you use your magical powers freely, to fight your enemy!]
"Great, more debt… but, I guess this is the only choice I have, so, let it rip!" He demanded.
[Request confirmed,] She assured.
After the system gave out the confirmation, Steve was instantly struck with what he was getting a bit used to, pain! It was irritating how he had to experience more pain now, right after he escaped the torture room, it was traumatizing, and yet he had no other option but to deal with it!
In the first few seconds of the occasion, he experienced a few muscle spasms all around his body. His limbs were less spazzy, perhaps because they hadn't developed fully yet?
Then, his muscle spasms got a bit more intense. He could feel the muscles on his back twitching, and retracting, as if they were spinning clockwise! If they suffered any more tension, he was certain that they would tear, so he started screaming out in pain! He couldn't keep his pain hidden.
The kidnapper heard him, so she poked her head to where he was laid on, and asked. "What's wrong with you?"
Steve was becoming a good liar, so in order to avoid suspicion, he answered. "I think you let me drink one too many potions? My whole fucking body is hurting!"
"That happens sometimes," She took the bait, "If a neighbor barges in to see who's screaming, tell them that you got bit by a dog, and that I'm helping you. Also, tell them that I'm praying right now, mention my name if you have to; I'm Arleesa."
That name was pretty, but Steve didn't care for it right now. She believed his lie, so he could suffer in peace for as long as he needed, but he sure hoped that all of this pain would end soon.
Steve felt like he was being boiled in a pot of soup, even though there wasn't any actual heat around, for it to cause such pain! It was brutal, but he clung on to the tiny hope that this pain would end up being useful, and worthwhile. It was this string of optimism that kept him from blacking out!
Steve endured fifteen more minutes of this brutal pain. He wailed like a maniac throughout the process, but thankfully he didn't arouse any suspicion amongst the neighbors. The latter benefitted him as well, because if he was to escape successfully, then he didn't need to get cut down by random people as soon as he left Arleesa's house. He had to be subtle.
Since he was okay now, he browsed the magical abilities that were now at his complete disposal. His mind was made up, he wanted to kill this crazy woman, and he figured out that flaming fingers ability would be the best for the job. Well, he had to wait for a few more minutes for all of his fingers to regenerate, but otherwise his plan was foolproof, he wanted to choke her to death!
"I've had enough of her," He thought.
Steve was ready to become a murderer, however, since he owed a great debt of gold to some frog that he didn't even know, he was ready to become a thief too. Arleesa was filthy rich, from the looks of it, because her house alone made it seem as if the entire city's wealth had been stashed within it! The house was massive, so he figured that she wouldn't be missing a couple of golden ornaments.
The entire house was coated with expensive furniture, paintings and there were even some decorative weapons on the walls! He peeked at that weird looking, golden vase that he had mistaken as a statue of a god, and figured that the darn thing was worth more than the large debt that he owed. The vase was two-foot tall, and it was even embedded with diamonds!
The houses' overall atmosphere was great, it even seemed expensive to breathe here. The word 'golden coloured' would be the best way to give her home a strong, and honest definition!
The golden ornaments made his eyes hurt, yes, but the house still looked pretty lively. One would get confused over the concept of day and night, if they were to stay here for too long! There were three large chandeliers above his head, and although he couldn't steal those, he still got a headache when he pictured someone lighting or replacing all of those candles within them, it looked like a headache.
Anyway, the utter greed that he was experiencing got him fairly distracted. Arleesa came back!
"Okay, we should be fine for a while. Are you ready to talk?" She asked.
Steve was spooked for a moment, but then he figured that he had to buy himself a bit more time. He had to make some conversation for a few minutes, in order to decide on the best course of action.
That's why he elusively asked, "You're filthy rich, you fat-assed bastard! Why do you even bother killing people for some darn plant recipes?"
"Flesh recipes," She corrected, "Don't shame my thirst for knowledge, you dick. Now, tell me about the crown!"
Steve started feeling pressured here, so he made up an extensive lie on the spot, he said. "I don't know where it exactly is or else I would've gotten it for myself, but the king's advisor, Gregory, gave me an expensive hint. There is this buried library, ancient, and it's below some stupid village east of here, so if we can get to that library, then we'll… or, you'll be a step closer to getting the crown."
"Right," She grunted, and then winked. "Looks like I can't kill you just yet. I'm gonna need you to be my guide, laborer, and perhaps my boy toy, hehe. What do you say we put your two-footer into use? My other victims were so unsatisfying…"